There's some great professional advice in this thread already but I think you're probably going to be coming at your problem from this perspective.
I recommend responding to lots of Craigslist postings (if there are enough in your city). Keep at it and you'll eventually find someone or several people that want to pay you. Probably not the big bucks but you'll start out here.
You can also go to businesses around you that look like they might need a website. Even if they don't, many people think they do and you can sell them that. Some businesses don't have much money, you may be able to get cake from them. Yes, I once developed a website in exchange for a cake a month. They were some of the best cakes I've ever had. You will move up from cakes and Craigslist as you develop more skill (re: programming, especially databases).
Try attending local conferences. I mean conference in the loosest sense of the word as in BarCamp or equivalent. Local meetings with other people doing what you're doing. Some of those people might need development work. If nothing else you'll see what people are up to and get a better feel for the local business.
It gets better.